"I've developed this project for a long time and one of the things that excited me most was the chance to work again with my wife," Hackford told Variety. "I had to beg; she's a very busy girl. We'd wanted to work together for some time but she wouldn't agree unless it was a great role, and this is a great role," he added. Movie Producer Taylor Hackford ("Ray," "An Officer and a Gentleman") served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bolivia in the 1960's.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Oscar-winner Helen Mirren is to star in a film about a married couple running a brothel in Nevada, with the veteran British actress's husband Taylor Hackford directing, it was reported Monday.

Mirren, who scooped the best actress prize at this year's Academy Awards for her performance in "The Queen", will play opposite another Oscar-winner, Joe Pesci, in the movie "Love Ranch", Daily Variety reported.

The film is based on the couple who opened the first legal brothel in Nevada and the violence that followed as their relationship buckled under infidelity.

Hackford, who recently directed the Ray Charles biopic "Ray", said the film is inspired by the story of brothel owners Joe and Sally Conforte, who ran the legendary Mustang Ranch, outside of Reno.

The notorious vice den made headlines in 1976 when Argentine heavyweight boxer Oscar Bonavena was shot dead by a bodyguard at the brothel.

The film will be the first time Hackford has worked with his wife Mirren since 1985's "White Nights".

"I've developed this project for a long time and one of the things that excited me most was the chance to work again with my wife," Hackford told Variety. "I had to beg; she's a very busy girl. We'd wanted to work together for some time but she wouldn't agree unless it was a great role, and this is a great role," he added.

The film will be the first major role for Pesci in nearly a decade. The 64-year-old star of "Goodfellas" and "Casino" has not appeared in a leading film role since 1998's "Lethal Weapon 4".

Dodd vows to filibuster Surveillance ActSenator Chris Dodd vowed to filibuster the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that would grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that helped this administration violate the civil liberties of Americans. "It is time to say: No more. No more trampling on our Constitution. No more excusing those who violate the rule of law. These are fundamental, basic, eternal principles. They have been around, some of them, for as long as the Magna Carta. They are enduring. What they are not is temporary. And what we do not do in a time where our country is at risk is abandon them."

What is the greatest threat facing us now? "People will say it's terrorism. But are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. Only we can change ourselves. So what is the great threat we are facing? I would approach this differently, in almost Marshall-like terms. What are the great opportunities out there - ones that we can take advantage of?" Read more.

Paul Theroux: Peace Corps WriterPaul Theroux began by writing about the life he knew in Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer. His first first three novels are set in Africa and two of his later novels recast his Peace Corps tour as fiction. Read about how Theroux involved himself with rebel politicians, was expelled from Malawi, and how the Peace Corps tried to ruin him financially in John Coyne's analysis and appreciation of one of the greatest American writers of his generation (who also happens to be an RPCV).

Ambassador revokes clearance for PC DirectorA post made on PCOL from volunteers in Tanzania alleges that Ambassador Retzer has acted improperly in revoking the country clearance of Country Director Christine Djondo. A statement from Peace Corps' Press Office says that the Peace Corps strongly disagrees with the ambassador’s decision. On June 8 the White House announced that Retzer is being replaced as Ambassador. Latest: Senator Dodd has placed a hold on Mark Green's nomination to be Ambassador to Tanzania.

Suspect confesses in murder of PCVSearch parties in the Philippines discovered the body of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell near Barangay Batad, Banaue town on April 17. Director Tschetter expressed his sorrow at learning the news. “Julia was a proud member of the Peace Corps family, and she contributed greatly to the lives of Filipino citizens in Donsol, Sorsogon, where she served,” he said. Latest: Suspect Juan Duntugan admits to killing Campbell. Leave your thoughts and condolences .

He served with honorOne year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

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Story Source: AFP

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; COS - Bolivia; Movies; Hollywood

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